Method or process of homogenizing cream.



H. N. BRAWNER, JR.

METHOD 0B. PROCESS OF HOMOGENIZING CREAM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1912.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHBET 1.

H. N. BRAWNER, JR. METHOD OR PROCESS- OF HOMOGENIZING CRE AM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1912.

Patented 0013.6, 1914 2 EEEEEEEEEEEE 2.

HENRY N. BRAWNER, JR., 0F WASHINGTOTV, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

METHOD 0B, PROCESS OF HOMOGENIZING CREAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

- Application filed August 28, 1912. Serial No. 717,497.

T 0 all whom it m ay concern Be it known that I, HENRY N. BRAWNER, J r.. a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods or Processes of Homogenizing Cream, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in a method or process of homogenizing cream. 7

The object is to break up the fat globules and emulsify all of the constituents of the cream under treatment into a smooth, thick homogenized product.

With this object in view, my invention consists in the double homogenizing of cream, that is to say, the repeated homogenizing treatment of the cream.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View of homogenizing apparatus wherein the cream to be homogenized is passed successively through two homogenizing machines so that it is readily subjected to the homogenizing action; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a homogenizing device; Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the disks forming part of the homogenizing device; Fig. 4 is a sectional-view through said disks; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of another .form of homogenizing device; and Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of two hollow blocks in lieu of the disks used in the apparatus set forth in Fig. 2.

The numerals 1 and 2 represent two homogenizing machines, each of which has a homogenizing head 3 through which the homogenizing is effected.

The numeral 4; indicates a tank from which a pipe 5 leads to homogenizer 1, and a pipe 6 leading from this homogenizer discharges into an elevated tank 7, whence it descends through a pipe 8 into the homogenizer 2, and from this it is conducted through a pipe 9 to the upper end of a cooler 10, whence the product is removed in cans'or other receptacles for distribution.

Before delivering the cream to the homogenizing device, or apparatus, the cream is heated by any suitable means, and as shown in Fig. 1, the cream is heated by a heating medium passing through a pipe 23, which heating medium is introduced into ajacket of the tank in water to raise the temperature of the cream to the desired point before it enters the first homogenizing apparatus.

While I have shown two homogenizers in my diagrammatic view for repeating the process of homogenization, it is perfectly obvious that the same thing might be accomplished by running the cream a second time or repeatedly through the same homogenizer.

I have illustrated two forms of mechanism in which I have carried out my improved process successfully, namely that shown in Fig. 2, in which a plurality of radiallygrooved rings or disks ll, 11, are superimposed in the bore 12 of the homogenizer opposite the inlet 13, where they are held under pressure between a lower bushing 14; screwed into the lower end of the homogenizer and a plunger or space-block 15 inserted above the disks through which the required pressure is applied by means of a screw 16 turning in the nut 17 The cream is forced under pressure by a pump 18 through inlet 13, thence between the radiallygrooved rings or disks, and finally out through bushing 14.

With the foregoing mechanism I have practised my process in a singlemachine by simply passing the cream through the second time, and obviously the same thing might be accomplished by providing two machines in series as illustrated in Fig. 1 of my drawings and passing it through one homogenizer, and then through the other, and as many more for that matter as the exigency might require.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a form of apparatus in which the double homogenizing process has been carried out most successfully by passing it once through the homogenizer between double surfaces. This is done by providing either one or two hollow plugs 19 and 20 in lieu of'the disks, and providing them with plane surfaces which come in contact with each other, and with the bushing at the bottom and the spaceblock at the top. The lower plug is provided with an annular well 21 at each end, and the upper plug with an annular well 22 at the top. The-cream on being forced product is uniformly emulsified in a single passage through the machine.

it is perfectly obvious that other forms of apparatus might be adopted in carrying out my improved process; It have merely illustrated two forms Which by actual demonstration l have proved to be successful Having fully described nay invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1. The improvement'in the art of homogenizing cream Which consists in subjecting the cream to repeated homogenizing action to avoid the occurrence of curd in the final homogenized product. 7

2. The hereindescribed process "which consists in subjecting cream to a homogenizing niiaeea action, and then subjecting the cream homogsnized in the first action to a second h0n1ogenizing action to hreak up the curol forrned during the first homogenizing action.

3. The hereindescribed process which consists in heating cream to a suitable ternperature, subjecting the heated cream to a homogenizing action, repeating such homogenizing action upon the cream, and then cooling the cream.

In testimony "whereof- I afix my signature, in the presence or" two Witnesses.

HENRY N. BRAWNER, Jn. Witnesses:

W'arrs T. EsrAenoon, R. tl BnAnnocn. 

